Ebby Halliday, one of Texas’ most outstanding businesswomen and the founder of Dallas-based Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®, the largest independently owned residential real estate company in Texas and 12th in the nation, celebrated her 102nd birthday on Saturday, March 9. Always committed to following one of her company’s founding principles – service to the community – Ebby once again used her birthday as a way to benefit others.

On Tuesday, March 5, sales associates and staff members of the Ebby Halliday Companies, which include Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®, Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, Home Team Mortgage Company, Home Team Insurance and Texas Premier Title, gathered at the legendary Southfork Ranch for a pancake breakfast. Proceeds from the celebratory event will benefit the approximately 600 students at Ebby’s namesake school, Ebby Halliday Elementary School.

Ebby founded Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® in 1945, and has since seen it grow to 30 offices, two real estate brands and three ancillary companies, and more than 1,500 associates covering over 12,000 square miles. Even at 102 years old, she remains interested in her business, its sales associates and the community that has been her passion for 67 years.

“I have learned many things over the years, but none is more important than the significance of gratitude,” says Ebby. “And I am so grateful for the many wonderful clients and community leaders that I have enjoyed knowing during my 102 years.”

Ebby is well known for following the Golden Rule and a favorite saying by her late husband, Maurice Acers, “Do something for someone every day.”

Education has always been important to Ebby; in fact, she considers it a privilege. Growing up on a farm did not always leave much time for studies. Ebby believes in excellence through education and advises, “Keep learning. Make the most of opportunities to learn. Go to college, take special courses, read, listen, observe, and get out there and participate!”

Many milestones have been reached in Ebby’s incredible career, including her 2009 biography, “Ebby Halliday: The First Lady of Real Estate.” She has spent her life involved in community affairs and is a moving force in efforts to better the lifestyle of her city and state. Ebby has received more awards than can be counted over the years for both her professional accomplishments and work in the community, including being inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame and being named to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, NFL Hall of Famer and real estate entrepreneur Roger Staubach put it best in his foreword to Ebby’s biography, “Ebby and I have several things in common. We both got to Dallas as soon as we could, albeit years apart. Neither of us arrived with plans for starting real estate companies, but good fortune, good friends, and good economic conditions attracted us to the real estate business. And we were both blessed with great teams.”

“Ebby’s impact on our community is countless, and we are honoring her today for a life well lived and for always striving to improve the lives of those around her,” said Mary Frances Burleson, president and CEO, Ebby Halliday Realtors.

The 68-year-old company, with approximately 1,500 sales associates, participated in almost 16,000 property transactions in 2012, with a sales volume of approximately $4.8 billion. Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® is one of the oldest and most respected full-service residential real estate firms in the country, offering brokerage, leasing, mortgage, insurance and title services. In addition to Ebby Halliday, the company added Home Team Mortgage Company (yhtm.com) in 1996, Home Team Insurance (hometeamins.com) in 2003, Dave Perry-Miller & Associates (daveperrymiller.com) in 2007 and Texas Premier Title (txprem.com) in 2011. For more information, visit the Web site voted one of the industry’s best by the Web Marketing Association, ebby.com.